Free The Best Bride by Susan Mallery Page A

blinked them away.
    â€œThis is wonderful. I don’t know how to thank you.”
    Travis shifted his weight from one foot to the other. “It’s nothing special. I didn’t even think of the idea. Craig does it for his kids. He says it’s fun to look back later. You’re not going to cry, are you?”
    She sniffed. “No.” She touched one finger to the smooth flat surface, as if she could touch Mandy’s warm cheek. Her daughter’s smile made her own lips curve up in response. “She does look happy, doesn’t she? And the teacher looks nice. Did you talk to her?”
    â€œI know her.”
    There was something about the way he said the words. “Oh?”
    â€œI sort of, you know.” He shoved his hands into his jeans pockets. “We dated for a while.”
    â€œAh. Is she—” Elizabeth paused, then found the correct word. “Is she nice?” She had to bite her lip to keep from smiling.
    Travis was obviously uncomfortable with the conversation. “Yeah, she’s really great. With kids, I mean.”
    â€œI’m sure Mandy will like her.”
    â€œMost of the kids do.”
    He pulled his hands out of his pockets and walked over to the window. The bright light outside lighted his tall, muscular body. He was very handsome, with his dark hair and eyes. Elizabeth could see why he’d acquired his reputation. If his brothers were half as good-looking, then it’s no wonder the town found the family a great source of gossip.
    â€œTell me about your ex-husband,” he said.
    She felt as if he’d thrown a bucket of cold water in her face. Every muscle in her body tensed. She had to put the photos down when she realized she was mangling them. She folded her hands in her lap and forced herself to relax.
    â€œI don’t have an ex-husband. I told you, I was never married.” She could feel the heat of her flush climbing from the scoop neck of her T-shirt, up to her face. It had been six months, yet she was still embarrassed to remember what had happened. Would this ever get easier?
    â€œYou’re sure?”
    â€œI would hardly forget being married.”
    He walked to the sofa and braced his hands against the tall back. “The reason I ask is because when I registered Mandy for school, she got confused about her last name. When I first asked, she said it was Proctor. I reminded her that your last name is Abbott. She said that was her last name, too. So which is it, Elizabeth?”
    He was still handsome as sin, but the friendly, teasing man who had shared breakfast with her had disappeared. In hisplace was a probing stranger. For the first time she saw the dark side of him. No doubt he made an excellent sheriff.
    But she couldn’t tell him the truth. It was too awful, too embarrassing, too unbelievable. She had trouble believing it had happened, and she’d lived through it. Besides, she didn’t want to see that pitying look in his eyes. She didn’t want to know he thought of her as less, or stupid. No, the truth was her own secret, one she would never share. She could, however, tell him part of the truth.
    She raised her hand to flick her hair back over her shoulder. “Proctor is Mandy’s father’s last name. She used it for a while, but now she’s using my name.”
    â€œI see.” He drew his eyebrows together. “You mentioned you had rented a house here in town.”
    What did that have to do with anything? She nodded slowly. “I can take possession on October first.”
    â€œIs your furniture in storage?”
    â€œWhy are you asking me this?”
    He moved around the sofa until he was standing in front of her. She had to tilt her head back to meet his eyes. She wished he was wearing his Stetson so she didn’t have to see the cold black swirling through his irises.
    â€œIs it?”
    â€œNo. I don’t have any furniture. I left it all behind in L.A.